Huntsville gazette., 1887-10-22
HOW TO RUN A At..ROAD.
What q Disgruntied Editor Overheard in o
Railway Presidents Office.

Railway Presidents Office.
happened in the general headquar-
ters OF one of our prominent railroads
the other day and wandered around
for some time. Among other things
I noticed was a large sign reading:
Editors don't pass here" 1t brought
to mind the fierce and whitening influ-
ences of the Interstate Commerce
Jaw. and l stopped and wept silently.
While thus giving way to my grief !
heard earnest stconversation in the Office
and looked in the door. The presi-
dent of the road was conversing with
one of the superintendent.
''Let me sce," said the president;
..you took enough timber out of the
Roaring creek bridge and those two
culverts to rebuild that bridge where
the train dropped through last week."
20, yes and had a lot left" replied
the superintendent.
''Just have what was left sent up to
my house-it'll come in handy next
winter for kindling-wood. BY the
way, you had better Tighten mp all the
bridges little-thcy were built alto
gether TO heavy at first.
'I'm doing sol don't put any
thing heavier than two by-fours in any
of the new bridges. l have new
scheme for heavy timbers on large
bridges" I"
whats that?''
II take four inch boards and nail
them together, making what appears
TO be timber six-by-six, or larger, ac-
cording TO the width of The boards.
Hollow-great saving of timber. YOU
seer
s'Y-a-e-s, that 5 so," replied the pres
ident as he put his feet mp on the
waste basket; 'but inch boards, YOU
say, inch boards-what about half
inchpn
'.1hey would probably be better
you've managed railroads longer than
! have"
'And you nail 'em together icon
tinued the president, as he appeared to
be lost in thought. you know nails
are expensive"
''Yes; we might glue 'em at the COR
ners"
That's more like it-or seems to me
if they were put up together that they
would be apt to stay-might sort Of
wedge 'em little at the ends some
how. Mebby you better use glue, how
ever-the public likes to see things
good and strong"
Yes; we got TO cater to the public
a little"
''Of course Don't want 'em to get
into the habit of walking. BY the way,
they seem to be getting struck on iron
bridges"
''Yes I've noticed it.
well, any thing to please EN-"
said the obliging president. II told
our chief engineer to bring in plan
for brid dge intended especially for the
public to stand and look at and lose it,
self in admiration. 1t is to be of heavy
sheet iron. but fear the style will be
altogether too expensive.
20 yes, it would-got to think Of
something cheaper than that" !
Il have q little plan here of a bridge
which / made my SELF" continued the
president as he drew paper out Of 4
nrivate desk "Yon will observe that
# is made wholly Of Tin. hollow tin
tubes, painted vigorous and power
full black.
That's good" said the A'perlntend-
cnt, beginning to get emf. 'usiasilc' /
.rhat's first-rate. Sill little costly
though. tell you the ideal rah road
bridge must be made out Of papef'-
yerv cheap, and when properly paint !
ed has q regular earthquake-defyinG }
look.
you're right there, papers thGE
thing, and I'd have introduced bridges
of it on our line long ago if it wash t :
for their liability to all soak up and
collapse every time it rains. J"
"They'd have to be varnishod to pre-
vent that, and there comes the matter
of expense again"
"Yes, that the way it goes expense
at every turn. | tell you. the truly /
ideal way to run railroad, if it could /
be arran ged," continued the president,
as he Strengthened up, ''would be TO |
have the locomotive when it comes to- |
river or ravine get up on its hind !,
wheels and jump it and jerk the train
right along, Yes, sir, and l believe |
the time is coming when they will do
it, too-run like thunder before they |
come to place where we now have
bridge, and when they get there they
will r ar right up and snort couple
of times and clear the thing at one
Jump and jerk thirteen coaches behind
en-! / tell you there would be Q little
money for the stockholders-and presi-
dents and superintendents--then with
no brid ges to build at all!'
THAT would be big thing. sure
enough replied tie superintendent.
THE railroad man would have little
show then"
..By the way-how are the car stoves
.bnr4 tip,n for fem Won know